Dual roll fabric welding machine and method of operation

ABSTRACT

A dual roll fabric welding or seaming machine is configured to seam pieces of sheet material to one another as the pieces move downstream. The machine includes modular gantries and various actor devices which may be readily mounted on any of the gantries to interact with the moving sheet material to achieve various functions, such as seaming pieces of sheet material together, forming hems, applying grommets to the sheet material, printing on the sheet material, connecting reinforcement strips or ropes to the sheet material and cutting the sheet material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/723,073, filed Nov. 6, 2012; the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to seaming machines. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a seaming machine or fabricwelding machine and method of seaming two or more sheet segmentstogether and performing other functions to manipulate the seamed sheetof material. Specifically, the invention relates to a dual roll fabricwelding machine with a modular configuration.

2. Background Information

Dual roll fabric welding machines are well known in the art. Typically,first and second rolls of sheet material are controlled to unwind andmove downstream through the machine so that the two sheets of unwoundmaterial are seamed or welded together to form a single wider sheet. Themachine then performs other functions to further manipulate or alter theseamed sheet material. One problem with such machines is the difficultyin setting them up for operation especially when there is a requirementto meet one specification and then reconfiguring the machine to meet adifferent specification.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention may provide a machine for use with sheetmaterial, the machine comprising a first gantry which comprises a firstgantry frame and a first mounting mechanism configured for mountingthereon a plurality of actor devices each of which is configured whenmounted on the first gantry to interact with the sheet material as thesheet material moves downstream through the machine; and a second gantrywhich is downstream of the first gantry and comprises a second gantryframe and a second mounting mechanism configured for mounting thereonthe plurality of actor devices.

In another aspect, the invention may provide a machine for use withsheet material, the machine comprising a first gantry; a second gantrydownstream of the first gantry; a first actor device which isalternately mountable on the first and second gantries and which isconfigured to interact with the sheet material as the sheet materialmoves downstream through the machine; and a second actor device which isalternately mountable on the first and second gantries and which isconfigured to interact with the sheet material as the sheet materialmoves downstream through the machine.

In another aspect, the invention may provide a method comprising thesteps of moving sheet material downstream past a first gantry and asecond gantry; performing a function which affects the sheet materialwith a first actor device mounted on the first gantry; performing afunction which affects the sheet material with a second actor devicemounted on the second gantry;

wherein the first actor device is removable from the first gantry andmountable on the second gantry; and the second actor device is removablefrom the second gantry and mountable on the first gantry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A sample embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode inwhich Applicant contemplates applying the principle, is set forth in thefollowing description and is shown in the drawing and is particular anddistinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the seaming machine of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the seaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of one of the gantries.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The seaming or fabric welding machine of the present invention is showngenerally at 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the exemplary embodiment, machine 1is shown as a plastic welding machine in which plastic welders are usedto form seams between various segments of sheet material. However,machine 1 also represents various other types of seaming machines, suchas ultrasonic welding machines, radio frequency (RF) welding machines,adhesive seaming machines, gluing seaming machines and sewing machines.Machine 1 is used to seam together various segments of sheet material toform larger sheets of material, such as tarpaulins for covering trailersand the like, tents, awnings, canopies, banners, and various otheritems.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, machine 1 has first and second ends 2 and 4defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and secondsides 6 and 8 defining therebetween an axial direction. First end 2 isan upstream end and second end 4 is a downstream end whereby duringoperation of machine 1 sheet material moves downstream in thelongitudinal direction from upstream end 2 to downstream end 4. Machine1 is configured to weld segments of sheet material together alongrespective typically parallel longitudinal edges thereof to form awelded sheet of material having a length which is increased in the axialdirection and typically about (and a little less than) twice as wide asthe two sheets from which it is formed although this may vary.

Machine 1 includes a rigid frame base 10 on which several components aresecurely mounted. In the exemplary embodiment, base 10 includeslongitudinally elongated parallel left and right rails 12 and 14, eachof which includes an upstream section 13 and a downstream section 15.Downstream section 15 defines a longitudinally elongated U-shapedchannel 17 which opens upwardly and extends from adjacent the upstreamend of section 15 to adjacent the downstream end of section 15. Machine1 further includes a left sheet material unwinding assembly 16 and aright sheet material unwinding assembly 18. Left assembly 16 isadjacent, to the left of and downstream of right assembly 18. Machine 1also includes several gantries 20. In the exemplary embodiment, thereare four gantries 20A-20D all of which are downstream of unwindingassemblies 16 and 18 and which are sequentially downstream of oneanother. Gantries 20 are longitudinally spaced from one another andsecured to rails 12 and 14. Gantries 20 are identical or essentiallyidentical and are aligned so as to appear superimposed on one another asviewed in the longitudinal direction. Machine 1 further includesupstream and downstream catwalks 22A-B each extending between andmounted on upstream sections 13 of rails 12 and 14. Catwalk 22A isdownstream of unwinding assemblies 16 and 18 and upstream of all ofgantries 20 and catwalk 22B. Downstream catwalk 22B is downstream ofgantries 20A and 20B and upstream of gantries 20C and 20D.

Each unwinding assembly 16, 18 includes a rigid frame 24 with anelectronic control box 26 mounted thereon. Each unwinding assembly alsoincludes a horizontal roller 28A and is configured for removablymounting thereon a spool 30 configured to support a roll 32 of sheetmaterial 34 to be unwound from roll 32. Each of roller 28A and spool 30is axially elongated and rotatable about an axis extending in the axialdirection so that roller 28A, spool 30 and each axis is perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction and, during operation, perpendicular tomovement of unwound sheet material 34 in the downstream direction.Roller 28A and spool 30 are thus parallel to one another. Unwindingassemblies 16 and 18 axially overlap one another partially as viewed inthe longitudinal direction. More particularly, each of left and rightunwinding assemblies 16 and 18 has left and right sides, and arepositioned so that the left side of right unwinding assembly 18 is tothe left of the right side of left unwinding assembly 16 and to theright of the left side of unwinding assembly. The left side of rightunwinding assembly 18 is axially offset and adjacent the right side ofleft unwinding assembly 16 whereby the left edge of sheet material 34unwinding from right unwinding assembly 18 overlaps and is adjacent theright edge of sheet material 34 unwinding from left unwinding assembly16. The left side of right unwinding assembly 18 is axially offset anddistal the left side of left unwinding assembly 16.

Each catwalk 22 includes a horizontal axially elongated walkway 36having an upstream side and a downstream side, a vertical upstream fence38A extending upwardly from adjacent the upstream side and a verticaldownstream fence 38B extending upwardly from adjacent the downstreamside. Fences 38A and 38B are axially elongated and longitudinally spacedfrom one another. Each walkway 36 and fence 38 extends from adjacentleft side 6 and left rail 12 to adjacent right side 8 and right rail 14.Each walkway 36 includes a central portion which extends from adjacentrail 12 to adjacent rail 14 and is slightly elevated so that the bottomof each central portion is spaced upwardly from the floor on whichmachine 1 is seated whereby the floor and bottom of each central portiondefine therebetween an open space 33 to allow sheet material 34 to movetherethrough during operation, as discussed further below. Each fencemay also be called a guardrail which serves to protect a person fromfalling off of the walkway and thus helps to prevent injury which mightotherwise occur. Each fence 38 typically includes at least a pair ofrigid uprights on either end and several rigid horizontal bars extendingfrom adjacent the left end of the fence to adjacent the right end of thefence and secured to the uprights. Rigid roller supports 40A and 40B areprovided respectively upstream of and adjacent the fence 38A of upstreamcatwalk 22A and downstream of and adjacent fence 38B of upstream catwalk22 k Rigid roller supports 40C and 40D are likewise providedrespectively upstream of and adjacent the fence 38A of downstreamcatwalk 22B and downstream of and adjacent fence 38B of downstreamcatwalk 22B. The roller supports 40 associated with each catwalk 22 maybe secured to the catwalk or separate therefrom. In either case,supports 40 are typically secured directly or indirectly to upstreamsections 13 of rails 12 and 14.

Machine 1 further includes multiple horizontal rollers 28B-M in additionto rollers 28A. All rollers 28 are axially elongated, parallel to oneanother and rotatable about respective horizontal parallel axes whichextend in the axial direction. Roller 28B is rotatably mounted on rollersupport 40A adjacent an upper end thereof and roller 28C is rotatablymounted on roller support 40A adjacent a lower end thereof. Roller 28Eis rotatably mounted on roller support 40B adjacent an upper end thereofand roller 28D is rotatably mounted on roller support 40B adjacent alower end thereof. Roller 28H is rotatably mounted on roller support 40Cadjacent an upper end thereof and roller 28I is rotatably mounted onroller support 40C adjacent a lower end thereof. Roller 28K is rotatablymounted on roller support 40D adjacent an upper end thereof and roller28J is rotatably mounted on roller support 40D adjacent a lower endthereof. Rollers 28F, 28G, 28L and 28M are respectively rotatablymounted on gantries 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D.

In the exemplary embodiment, the tops of the upper set of rollers 28B,28E, 28F, 28G, 28H, 28K, 28L and 28M are at about the same height as oneanother while the bottoms of the lower set of rollers 28C, 28D, 28I and28J are likewise at about the same height as one another. The rollers 28in the lower set are generally adjacent base 10 and the lower end ofmachine 1 and substantially lower than the rollers of the upper set. Thebottoms of the rollers 28C and 28D are lower than the bottom of thecentral portion of walkway 36 of upstream catwalk 22A. Likewise, thebottoms of the rollers 28I and 28J are lower than the bottom of thecentral portion of walkway 36 of downstream catwalk 22B. Space 33 belowupstream catwalk 22A extends from adjacent the bottom of roller 28C toadjacent the bottom of roller 28D. Likewise, space 33 below downstreamcatwalk 22B extends from adjacent the bottom of roller 28I to adjacentthe bottom of roller 28J.

As noted above, gantries 20 are identical or nearly identical and thusare formed as modular units which can be used in place of one another,that is, they are typically interchangeable. Gantry 20 of FIG. 3 is thusrepresentative of each of gantries 20A-20D although there may be somerelatively minor variations. Primarily, any such variation is typicallyrelated to the configuration of gantries 20A and 20B relative to theconfiguration of gantries 20C and 20D. More particularly, gantries 20Aand 20B are typically stationary gantries and thus fixedly secured tosections 13 of rails 12 and 14, whereas gantries 20C and 20D aretypically longitudinally movable gantries (Arrows A, B in FIG. 1) andthus movably mounted on sections 15 of rails 12 and 14. Thus, gantries20C and 20D typically include rail-engaging or track-engaging wheels 42whereby the left wheels 42 rollingly engage section 15 of left rail 12and the right wheels 42 rollingly engage section 15 of right rail 14.Wheels 42, which may be within channels 17 respectively, may be drivewheels configured to drive longitudinal movement of gantries 20C and 20Dupstream and downstream along sections 15, or may be non-driven wheelssuch that an actuator may push or pull gantries 20C and 20D upstream anddownstream. Gantries 20A and 20B may be formed without wheels 42.However, gantries 20A and 20B may also be formed such that wheels 42 canbe readily mounted thereon. Likewise, gantries 20C and 20D may be formedsuch that wheels 42 are readily removable. Furthermore, all of thegantries may be formed with wheels, and gantries 20A and 20B can simplybe positioned for stationary use, such as by locking the wheels orplacing them on a portion of base 10 in a manner that will prevent themfrom rolling.

With primary reference to FIG. 3, gantry 20 is described in greaterdetail. Gantry 20 comprises a rigid frame which includes a rigid loweraxial beam 44, a rigid upper axial beam 46, and rigid left and rightuprights 48 and 50. The left end of lower beam 44 is rigidly secured tothe lower end of left upright 48, and the left end of upper beam 46 isrigidly secured to the upper end of left upright 48. The right end oflower beam 44 is rigidly secured to the lower end of right upright 50,and the right end of upper beam 46 is rigidly secured to the upper endof right upright 50. Beams 44 and 46 and uprights 48 and 50 togetherform a rectangular structure and define therebetween a sheetmaterial-receiving through passage 52 which extends from the upstreamend of gantry 20 to the downstream end of gantry 20 and through whichsheet material 34 passes during operation. Passage 52 thus has anentrance opening 54 (FIG. 1) along the upstream end of gantry 20 and anexit opening 56 along the downstream end of gantry 20. Gantry 20 hasleft and right feet 58 secured to and extending downwardly from bottomof the main rectangular structure respectively along the left and rightsides thereof. A control box 60 is mounted on the left side of therectangular structure of gantry 20 and is typically in the form of aprogrammable logic controller (PLC). A mounting rail 62 extends alongthe bottom of upper beam 46 from adjacent left upright 48 to adjacentright upright 50. An axially elongated horizontal work platform 64 isprovided within passage 52 directly in front of or upstream of andparallel to roller 28 of gantry 20. Platform 64 is spaced upwardly ofand rigidly secured to lower beam 44 by a plurality of support poles 66.One or more actuators or motors 68 are typically mounted on gantry 20and in electrical or other communication with control box 60 so that box60 may be programmed to specifically control actuators or motors 68.

Gantries are configured to respectively support actor devices 70A-70D.Devices 70 are mountable on any of mounting rails 62. Thus, mountingrails 62 are configured as universal mounting structures with respect todevices 70 so that any of devices 70 may be readily mounted on any givenrail 62. Each device 70 shown may be in the form of a single unit or mayinclude several units or actor devices which perform differentfunctions. More particularly, each actor device 70 is configured tointeract with sheet material 34 during downstream movement of sheetmaterial 34 though machine 1. Each device 70 is configured to perform afunction or operation which directly affects sheet to material 34 duringthe downstream movement of material 34. Each actor device thus includesa component that engages sheet material 34 or applies or connects aworkpiece component to sheet material 34, which itself is a workpiececomponent, to ultimately produce a finished product or workpiece. Eachcontrol box 60 is typically programmed to control the actor device ordevices on the corresponding gantry 20 to provide a specifiedpredetermined configuration of the final workpiece formed from thepieces of sheet material 34 which is unwound from rolls 32 and any othercomponents added thereto as discussed below.

Each actor device 70 may, for example, be or include a welding device orother seaming device capable of seaming or welding a portion of sheetmaterial 34 to itself or another piece of sheet material 34; a foldingdevice positioned to fold over a portion of sheet material 34; a kederdevice or rope positioning device configured to position a rope within afolded loop or channel of sheet material 34 to be seamed to form a ropepassage so that the rope extends through the rope passage and is thusconnected to the sheet material; a grommeting device or grommetapplicator which applies or secures grommets or eyelets to the sheetmaterial; a print head which prints various indicia on sheet material34, such as logos or other alphabetical and/or numerical charactersand/or designs or graphics; a cross cutting device which cuts sheetmaterial in the axial direction typically perpendicular to thedownstream movement of sheet material 34 through machine 1.

The above-noted seaming or welding device mentioned in the previousparagraph may be, for example, an overlap welding or other seamingdevice for welding or otherwise seaming two pieces of sheet materialtogether along respective parallel longitudinal edges of the two pieces.The above-noted seaming or welding device may also, for example, be apart of a hem former which forms a hem along an edge of sheet material34 by folding over with a folding device a first section of sheetmaterial 34 onto an adjacent second section of sheet material 34 andwelding or otherwise seaming the first and second sections to oneanother. The above-noted seaming or welding device may also be, forexample, a cross welder or cross seamer which welds or otherwise seamsan additional strip of sheet material (typically a reinforcement strip)onto sheet material 34 so that the additional strip secured to sheetmaterial 34 is axially elongated, typically perpendicular to thedownstream movement of sheet material 34 through machine 1. The examplesof actor devices 70 given above is not exhaustive and may include othersuch devices known in the art. The welding device typically includes aheated welding tip which is positionable adjacent sheet material 34 anda pair of pinch rollers which are adjacent and downstream of the weldingtip and configured to press therebetween the sheet material heated bythe welding tip to complete the welded seam.

Although the various types of actor devices 70 may be mounted on anygiven gantry 20, machine 1 in the exemplary embodiment it typicallyconfigured as follows. Device 70A typically comprises an overlap seamingdevice for seaming two pieces of sheet material together, one or morehem formers which include a folding device and a seaming device, and mayalso include a keder device or rope positioning device as discussedabove. Device 70B typically includes a grommeting device or grommetapplicator and a print head. Device 70C typically includes a crosswelder or cross reamer for securing a reinforcement strip to sheetmaterial 34. Device 70D typically includes a cross cutting device.

The operation of machine 1 is now described given the configurationprovided in the previous paragraph. Rolls 32 of sheet material 34 aremounted on spools 30 and positioned so that material 34 may be unwoundfrom rolls 32. Control boxes 26 and 60 are programmed to control thevarious operations performed by machine 1 and thus are in electrical orother communication with the various actuators, motors, brakes, variouselectrical circuitry and other components necessary to control theseoperations. More particularly, boxes 26 are programmed to properlycontrol the unwinding of sheet material 34 from the respective rolls 32.Each piece of sheet material 34 moves downstream from its respectiveroll 32 to and beyond the downstream end 4 of machine 1. Each piece ofsheet material 34 engages each of rollers 28 as it moves downstream.More particularly, each piece of sheet material 34 goes over itsrespective roller 28A and over rollers 28B, 28E, 28F, 28G, 28H, 28K, 28Land 28M and goes under rollers 28C, 28D, 28I and 28J. Thus, each pieceof sheet material 34 extends generally horizontally from its roller 28Ato roller 28B, substantially vertically downward from roller 28B toroller 28C upstream of and adjacent fence 38A of catwalk 22A,substantially horizontally from roller 28C to roller 28D under walkway36 of catwalk 22A within upstream space 33, substantially verticallyupward from roller 28D to roller 28E downstream of and adjacent fence38B of catwalk 22A, substantially horizontally from roller 28E to roller28F to roller 28G to roller 28H and through passages 52 of gantries 28Aand 28B, substantially vertically downward from roller 28H to roller 28Iupstream of and adjacent fence 38A of catwalk 22B, substantiallyhorizontally from roller 28I to roller 28J under walkway 36 of catwalk22B within downstream space 33, substantially vertically upward fromroller 28J to roller 28K downstream of and adjacent fence 38B of catwalk22B, and substantially horizontally from roller 28K to roller 28L toroller 28M and through passages 52 of gantries 28C and 28D.

Sheet material 34 from left roll 32 has parallel longitudinal left andright edges 72 and 74. Sheet material 34 from right roll 32 has parallellongitudinal left and right edges 76 and 78 which are parallel to edges72 and 74. Left edge 72 of the left piece of sheet material 34 isadjacent the left ends of rollers 28B 28M and generally adjacent leftside 6. Right edge 78 of the right piece of sheet material 34 isadjacent the right ends of rollers 28B-28M and generally adjacent rightside 8. Left edge 76 of the right piece of sheet material 34 partiallyaxially overlaps and is adjacent right edge 74 of the left piece ofsheet material 34 and distal left edge 72 of the left piece.

As the left and right pieces of sheet material 34 move downstream, thevarious actor devices 70 interact with these pieces. The overlap weldingor seaming device of actor device 70A welds or otherwise seams left andright pieces of sheet material 34 together along edges 74 and 76 to forma longitudinally elongated overlap seam parallel to edges 72-76 and tothe direction of movement of material 34 through machine 1. Actor device70A typically includes a hem former which forms a hem along one of leftedge 72 of the left piece of sheet material 34 and right edge 76 of theright piece of sheet material 34. Actor device 70A may also have anotherhem former which forms a hem along the other of left edge 72 and rightedge 76. When desired, actor device 70A may also include one or morekeder or rope positioning devices to position a rope within the foldedloop or channel formed by the one or more folding devices of device 70Aalong edges 72 and/or 76, whereby the seaming device of the hem formerseams the sheet material 34 to form a rope passage along edges 72 and/or76 so that the rope extends through the rope passage and is thusconnected to the sheet material.

After the overlap seaming device has interacted with the left and rightpieces of sheet material to form the overlap seam therebetween, the twopieces are seamed together to form a single joined piece of sheetmaterial 34 extending from adjacent the left ends of rollers 28F-M toadjacent the right ends of rollers 28F-M. The grommeting device orgrommet applicator of actor device 70B secures grommets or eyelets tothe joined piece of sheet material 34 in accordance with the program ofcontrol box 60 of gantry 20B. The print head of actor device 70B printsthe desired indicia on the joined piece of sheet material 34 inaccordance with the program of control box 60 of gantry 20B. The crosswelder or seamer of actor device 70C moves axially (Arrow C in FIG. 2)across the joined sheet material 34 to weld or otherwise seam areinforcement strip of sheet material onto sheet material 34 asdescribed above in accordance with the program of control box 60 ofgantry 20C. This step occurs as gantry 20C moves downstream (Arrow A inFIG. 1) at the same downstream rate as sheet material 34 under controlof the program of control box 60 of gantry 20C. Control box 60 of gantry20C then controls gantry 20C to move back upstream to its home position.The cross cutting device of actor device 70D moves axially (Arrow D inFIG. 2) across the joined sheet material 34 to cut the joined pieces ofsheet material 34 in the axial direction as described above inaccordance with the program of control box 60 of gantry 20D. This stepoccurs as gantry 20D moves downstream (Arrow B) at the same downstreamrate as sheet material 34 under control of the program of control box 60of gantry 20D. Control box 60 of gantry 20D then controls gantry 20D tomove back upstream to its home position.

After the joined sheet material 34 has been cut by the cutting device ofactor device 70D, the separated piece is a finished workpiece. In theexemplary embodiment of machine 1, all operations of machine 1 occurwhile sheet material is moving downstream, thus providing an automatedcontinuous, non-stop operation absent normal machine shutdown orshutdown for repair or adjustments. When the user desires to change theconfiguration of machine 1 to meet an alternate product specification,doing so is relatively simple due to the ease with which the actordevices may be removed from one gantry and/or mounted on a differentgantry. Furthermore, if additional gantries are needed to provideadditional functions performed by the actor devices, it is a relativelysimple matter to add such gantries due to their modular configuration.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A machine for use with sheet material, the machine comprising: afirst gantry which comprises a first gantry frame and a first mountingmechanism configured for mounting thereon a plurality of actor deviceseach of which is configured when mounted on the first gantry to interactwith the sheet material as the sheet material moves downstream throughthe machine; and a second gantry which is downstream of the first gantryand comprises a second gantry frame and a second mounting mechanismconfigured for mounting thereon the plurality of actor devices.
 2. Themachine of claim 1 wherein the first gantry is essentially identical tothe second gantry.
 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein at least one of thegantries is movable downstream and upstream.
 4. The machine of claim 3further comprising a plurality of wheels mounted on the at least onegantry and configured to facilitate upstream and downstream movement ofthe at least one gantry.
 5. The machine of claim 1 further comprising afirst sheet material unwinding assembly upstream of the first and secondgantries.
 6. The machine of claim 5 further comprising a second sheetmaterial unwinding assembly upstream of the first and second gantries; aright side of the first unwinding assembly; and a left side of thesecond unwinding assembly which is to the left of the right side of thefirst unwinding assembly so that the first and second unwindingassemblies partially overlap one another in an axial direction which isperpendicular to downstream movement of the sheet material.
 7. Themachine of claim 1 further comprising a catwalk downstream of the firstgantry.
 8. The machine of claim 7 further comprising a portion of thecatwalk having a bottom; a first roller upstream and adjacent thecatwalk; a second roller downstream and adjacent the catwalk; a bottomof the first roller which is lower than the bottom of the portion of thecatwalk; and a bottom of the second roller which is lower than thebottom of the portion of the catwalk.
 9. The machine of claim 7 whereinthe catwalk comprises a walkway having an upstream side and a downstreamside, an upstream fence extending upwardly from adjacent the upstreamside, and a downstream fence extending upwardly from adjacent thedownstream side.
 10. The machine of claim 1 further comprising theplurality of actor devices; wherein one of the actor devices comprisesat least one of a seaming device, a folding device, a rope positioningdevice, a grommet applicator, a print head and a cross cutting device.11. The machine of claim 1 further comprising the plurality of actordevices; wherein one of the actor devices comprises a seaming device.12. The machine of claim 11 wherein the seaming device comprises anoverlap seaming device positioned to seam two pieces of the sheetmaterial together along respective parallel longitudinal edges of thetwo pieces.
 13. The machine of claim 11 wherein the seaming device ispart of a hem former positioned to form a hem along an edge of the sheetmaterial.
 14. The machine of claim 11 wherein the seaming devicecomprises a cross seamer which is movable to seam a reinforcement striponto the sheet material so that the reinforcement strip extends in theaxial direction.
 15. The machine of claim 11 wherein the seaming devicecomprises a welding device.
 16. The machine of claim 15 wherein thewelding device comprises a heated welding tip and a pair of pinchrollers which are adjacent and downstream of the welding tip.
 17. Themachine of claim 1 further comprising a first electric control boxmounted adjacent one of the first and second gantries.
 18. The machineof claim 17 further comprising a second electric control box mountedadjacent the other of the first and second gantries.
 19. A machine foruse with sheet material, the machine comprising: a first gantry; asecond gantry downstream of the first gantry; a first actor device whichis alternately mountable on the first and second gantries and which isconfigured to interact with the sheet material as the sheet materialmoves downstream through the machine; and a second actor device which isalternately mountable on the first and second gantries and which isconfigured to interact with the sheet material as the sheet materialmoves downstream through the machine.
 20. A method comprising the stepsof: moving sheet material downstream past a first gantry and a secondgantry; performing a function which affects the sheet material with afirst actor device mounted on the first gantry; performing a functionwhich affects the sheet material with a second actor device mounted onthe second gantry; wherein the first actor device is removable from thefirst gantry and mountable on the second gantry; and the second actordevice is removable from the second gantry and mountable on the firstgantry.